Observation of the political system can be a great aid to those who would wish to become better managers. Not in the sense of emulating the behavior or [lack of] results, rather in the way a wise man learns from a fool. That is by watching their behavior and extracting the lessons they seem incapable of learning. For instance an almost total lack of leadership. Following are a short list of observations to illustrate my point. A leader might by avoiding such behavior, become a far better leader, in my opinion.

Short-term focus. That is gross over-reaction to the latest symptom of a mis-managed system, with no regard to the actual source of the problems. We see this over and again. Whenever the latest manifestation of mismanagement appears, huge resources are immediately diverted toward a patch. Also known as crisis-management and totally ineffective. This gives the appearance of action without any of the hard work it takes to actually solve the problem. True leaders see symptoms for what they are and work for long-term solutions. They do not let the latest crisis divert them from the aim.

Blame, blame, blame. Whatever occurs simply find someone to blame, rather than work on the problem. This has a double effect of bolstering the image of the accuser, while requiring no real solution nor effort to resolve the problem. Some have elevated this to an art form. Blaming opponents for problem they themselves create with short-term patches and wild spending without thought. True leaders accept responsibility, concentrate on what is wrong and unite people toward solutions.

Branching, when asked questions. Closely related to the above point. When asked for a plan, they branch to a topic that does not require any responsibility on their part. For instance, "What will you do about the high cost of energy?" Answer, "Well, I wont do what the current administration has done, which is lead us into . . ." Pressed for a real answer, "We’re going to explore various avenues of alternative energies along with . . ." Again, no real answer. As long as we speak in abstracts that do not exist, such as alternative energies, we really don’t offend any would be supporters. As soon as we state an actual method, someone will oppose. A true leader reviews possibility, chooses a course most likely to bring success and benefit everyone. They then state the position, along with the reasons and move forward.

Create divisiveness among the people. Adolf Hitler used the Jews. Current practice is to create social strata based on success. Sort of a victims and villains game. If you are not a victim, you must be a villain and if you are a victim, you need me to protect you. Again closely related to the blame game. It is not usually popular to tell people what they truly need to hear. It is far easier to promise an endless stream of perks, and fault those who have done well without these giveaways as the cause for the need. True leaders unite people, for the common good and decrease dependence.

Focus on equal outcomes, with no focus on inputs. One of the biggest perversions of truth, that society today seems to blindly accept, is that all men are equal. All men may be created equal and may be equal in the eyes of their creator. Beyond that they are anything but equal. Some work hard, some are lazy. Some are smart, some or foolish. Some plan and defer gratification, others spend wildly and are controlled by their desires. A leader works to provide opportunity. They work to remove obstacles to success and provide a means by which success may be achieved.

Rather than address the problems of runaway cost, build bureaucracies to fund them. A true leader works to eliminate the problem, by finding methods to lower cost, remove waste and improve efficiency.

Appeal to groups, rather than everyone, with solutions. "We are going to help the Senior Citizens, or the minorities or the poor or . . ." While this all sounds worthwhile, a true leader works to make things better for everyone. Since Senior Citizens, minorities and the poor are part of everyone, things are better for them as well. What such rhetoric does is serve to distract from the job at hand and promise special treatment to socially acceptable groups of people.

Use gimmicks that disguise the true cost from those who bear them. "We’re going to tax big business." All [should] know that business doesn’t pay tax, they collect tax. They collect it from those that use their services, thus raising cost and prices. People pay the higher prices and to add insult to injury, sales tax on the inflated amounts. True leaders allow people to see what things cost and work to build value into their service.

I feel a great deal about true leadership can be learned by watching our politicians and the results achieved. The thought that everyone should have everything they want, is not government, nor leadership, it is chaos. Leaders do not mislead people, they lead them for the common good. Everyone may not be able to have everything they want. With true leadership the message is we all work together, toward rightful aims, so everyone may each have more of what they work to produce.

Who’s responsibility is it to fix these issues? It is the leaders, because they are in leadership, or the peoples, because we elected them? Are the leaders simply responding to what we the people want to hear?

As a business person we are “elected” every time someone patronizes our business. Do we offer what people want to buy at a price they want to pay? Do we educate them about the real costs of owning and maintaining a vehicle?

Who’s responsibility is it to fix these issues? It is the leaders, because they are in leadership, or the peoples, because we elected them? Are the leaders simply responding to what we the people want to hear?

As a business person we are “elected” every time someone patronizes our business. Do we offer what people want to buy at a price they want to pay? Do we educate them about the real costs of owning and maintaining a vehicle?

That is an excellent question and the exact parallel I hoped to make. The leader is responsible, in my opinion. It is the job of leadership to act in the best interest of the people, not always what they want. Leadership is not about making people “happy.” It’s about doing what is best for all involved. I believe the exact same could be said about a business leader.

A person with a bubble on their brake hose may just want brake pads. A true leader has to say no, it's not safe. People do not always realize the ramifications of their actions. As a trained professional, a person is held to a higher standard.

Another example is a person that wants the cheapest airline ticket they can find. It is up to the leadership of the airline to not defray maintenance or cut corners to give the client what they "want." The client wants the cheapest ticket, until the plane starts spiraling toward the earth. Now they want the safest airline. LEADERSHIP must uphold the standard.

The only thing that trumps the lack of money in the economy is the massive lack of leadership. It seems to me that the media and current powers that be make sure that anyone attempting to lead is destroyed or minimized in any way they can.

Congressman Paul (there are a few others, but very few) is one such example. One may not agree with him on everything, but he offered true servant type leadership the way, in theory anyway, that it is supposed to work. It is worth noting that he did gain what is arguably the most loyal and dedicated following of any politician today.

If he had not been minimized, he could well have been the leading voice in the current crisis. I would be surprised to see a significant lack of success for any business owner who followed his approach.

The only thing that trumps the lack of money in the economy is the massive lack of leadership. It seems to me that the media and current powers that be make sure that anyone attempting to lead is destroyed or minimized in any way they can.

Congressman Paul (there are a few others, but very few) is one such example. One may not agree with him on everything, but he offered true servant type leadership the way, in theory anyway, that it is supposed to work. It is worth noting that he did gain what is arguably the most loyal and dedicated following of any politician today.

If he had not been minimized, he could well have been the leading voice in the current crisis. I would be surprised to see a significant lack of success for any business owner who followed his approach.

Hi Tom,

Two of the things most great leaders almost universally share are these:

They are greatly admired and respected by those they serve

They are despised by those they oppose

When a leader stands up for what is right, the dividing lines are quickly drawn. The strong, that are on the side of right, the average who ride the fence and those who benefit from the wrong.

Those benefitting from the current situation will seek to destroy leadership that stands in their way. There greatest fear is that more of the "fence sitters" will become aware and also stand against them. Since they have no defensible stance for their position, this leaves trying to destroy the leadership of the opposition.